Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-10-20
HOW HENS TALK
Tho Language OF tho Barn-fard FovR
Translated Into English.


Translated Into English.
As an example of bird-language. the
ordinary domestic fowl presents the
most interesting and perfect range. so
common that it is rarely considered or
reflected upon; not a few will be aston
ished at the vocal possibilities of the
hen if they will give the subject little
investigation
Knowing that the hen has voice.
we assume that its Office is to afford
communication between individuals.
Half an hour in farm-yard will be-
yond question demonstrate this. and
that cer;ain sounds are the equivalents
of words. The crow of the cock is as
suredly a challenge, the moment
another bird is noticed, and is kept up
either in advance or retreat. 1t is
sounded in the morning in answer to
others, and is comparable to the chal-
lenge or war cry of many savage tribes.
or even the answering shouts of COLI
lege boys or men, that are unexplain-
able on other grounds than challenge
Of merits.
Observing closely our rooster. ac-
companied by. his family, we notice
that the hens pay no attention to the
challenge; but let him find some deli
cacy, he utters succession of short
notes, "tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck!' upon
| which the others rush about him eager
to share. Again, if hawk flies over
head, the cock, guardian Of the flock,
raises his head and utters a prolonged
note rs different from the former as
possible. "k-a-r-r-r-e." he seems to
say. which translated into English
means '.look out for the hawk! run!'
and Immediately hens and chickens
duck their heads and rush for cover
Now let dog dart after the head OF
this family, and listen to the chicks
and other sounds coming fast and fu-
rious-protests in every intonation.
The hen can not crow, but she has
| in other respects as perfect control of
language as her master. Indeed, she
can sing: purely self-congratulatory
performance expressive Of deep con-
tentment and complete satisfaction,
| heard when hens are let out and they
are running for food, and upon warm
days in spring it is ''kerr, kerr.
KERR differing in its meditation and
intonation in individuals. How differ
ent is this from the sharp ''cluck,
cluck" of the mother-hen. The latter
is general warning to everybody,
and plainly says: Il have young
family, and must be let alone" If -
grain is found, how suddenly this is
changed to the quick call. TUX.
tuck. tuckr' upon hearing which the
little ones come rushiHx pell-mcll; and
they understand it the moment they
leave the shell. Indeed, the different
notes, or .'baby talk Of hen are of
great variety. No one would think of
saying that the ''cut, cut, ca-da-cut, was
a call 1t says as plain as words can tell,
Il have laid an egg" and the bright
little eggg-hun:er who hears Immediate
ly starts for the hay loft, as favorite
hound of mine was in habit of doing.
She understood her language, and fed
upon freshly-laid eggs for some time
before discovered that she was such
a linguist The moment .'cut, cut.
ca-da-cut," was heard she trotted to the
hen coop.
When the little chicks are nestled
under the mother another sound is
heard. a prolonged hOarse "c-r-a-w-z-
re. c-r-a WIFE," which copy from
happy mother in my possession with
out the aid of Il phonOgraph. Enter a
chicken-coop at night. and u soft
whistling noise is made. a gentle
chirping by the birds. something like
"w-h-o-o-i-e.' rapidly repeated, that
speaks plainly of apprehension. If the
chicken is seized by the leg the ''c-r-a-
i-a-i-o-u. c-i-a-i-a-i-o-u' that follows
could never be construed into any
thing but a wall Of anguish. So if we
commence dictionary of the domes-
tic fowllanguage we might have the
following as basis:
Observation-Disclosures. Challenge of
male.
Tuck. tuck, tuck Food call Of
male.
k-a-r-r-e. Announcing presence of
hawk.
Cut, cut. ca-da.cut. Announcement
of egg-laying.
Chuck, cluck, cluck. Call of young.
Kerr, kerr, kerr. Song of content
ment of hen.
C-r-a-w-Z-z-e Quieting young
chicks.
W-h-o-o-i-e (whistle). Expression of
apprehension.
C-r-a-i-a-i-o-u. Terror and protest
ut capture,
These sounds of course vary in indi-
viduals. that is, in the intonation, as,
like persons, no two birds can utter
the same vocal soundS-C. +. Holder,
in Vide Quake.